Sheet-delivery mechanism for printing-presses and other machines.



R. MIEHLE. SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES AND OTHERMACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-2.19M.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

H. MIEHLE.

SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES AND OTHER MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2.19! 5.

Patented Jan. 21,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IN I/E N 70/? k & \\W\ M QM N E Q m I M if; r f E V. 4 m 1 E E: \m mm NMWM w M 0 1 I NR mk Q m L m6 I k mm 9 W GE 1 9 1 n-x nun: paw w. rnamummlruunmmm o R. MIEHLE; SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM.FOR PRINTING PRESSES ANDOTHER MACHINES.

APPLICATION HLED OCT. 2. I9I5.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES.-

INVENTOR ROBERT MIEI-ILE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SHEET-DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING-PRESSES AND OTHER MACHINES.

Application filed October 2, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, ROBERT MIEHLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chi-- cago, in the county of Cook and State of-Il1inois,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sheet-DeliveryMecha nism for Printing-Presses and other Machines, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference'being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to sheet carriers of printing presses which areemployed in delivering sheets though not limited to use on printingpresses alone.

In my U. S. Patent No. 1,111,667 I have disclosed a sheet deliverymechanism which embodies many elements which may be used in connectionwith this invention and when so used add materially to its usefulness.My former invention disclosed a sheet carrying element moving outwardlyon one level during its receipt of the sheet and descending and movinginwardly during the discharge of the sheet, and which invention in itsspecific embodiment included an endless belt sheet supporting elementand means for rolling said belt element out from under the sheet as itmoved inwardly on said lower level.

In accordance with one feature of my present invention I provide sheetstops moving with the sheet supporting element, moving outwardly duringits receipt of the sheet and inwardly during the discharge of the same,which sheet stops are adapted to control the sheet during the outwardmovement of the same, and which move to a position below the sheet topermit the discharge of the same as said sheet supporting element movesinwardly. In its preferred embodiment this feature embraces a sheetsupporting element similar to that disclosed in the above mentionedpatent, which it will be noted moves outwardly upon one level during itsreceipt of the sheet and descends and moves inwardly upon a lower levelduring the discharge of the sheet.

A supplemental feature resides in providing sheet stops having two sheetengaging portions one for engagement wlth the sheet as it movesoutwardly and the other for engagement with the sheet at the point ofdischarge whereby the sheet stops may fully controlthe sheet up to thetime when the sheet is discharged without complicated Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21', 1919.

Serial N 0. 53,752.

mechanism, and whereby the same mechanism, which drives the sheetsupporting element, may be utilized to drive the sheet stops by a directconnection.

In accordance with other features of my invention the mechanism isrendered easily adjustable for various widths of sheets; and themechanism is so constructed that the mechanism may be quicklydisassembled and assembled to permit its being interchanged with a flydelivery of usual construction, a supplemental feature to this residingin providing guide fingers for guiding the sheet to the delivery whichare so constructed and mounted to permit their being swung intoinoperative position to permit the use of a fly delivery.

In accordance with another feature of my invention I provide tapedeflecting pulleys engageable with the sheet supporting element of amechanism similar to that disclosed in said above-mentioned patent whichengage and deflect the tape stretches downwardly while they are on saidupper level whereby the distance between the upper and the lower levelsof said tape stretches is materially reduced thus enabling the device tomaintain a more effective control of the sheet during its descent fromsaid upper level to said lower level, and whereby the stretch requiredin the tapes is reduced,"

In accordance with another feature I provide two sheet supportingelements, one moving outwardly upon an upper level during the receipt ofthe sheet and descending 'to a lower level where the other supportingelement receives the sheet and effects the discharge of the same. Thisfeature permits, of the sheet receiving surface of the sheet supportingelement, which receives the sheet, moving outwardly at the same rate ofspeed as the driving mechanism thereof and at a rate of speed nearerthat of the sheet as it moves from the press, and, if sheet stops areused in conjunction therewith, at the same rate of speed as the sheetstops, whereby the frictional contact of this sheet supporting elementwith the sheet will be more effective in controlling the sheet as wellas supporting it.

In accordance with another feature I provide a sheet supporting elementmoving outwardly on one level during its receipt of the sheet anddescending and moving inwardly upon a lower level together with meansfor discharging the sheet as it moves inwardly, which means in thepreferred embodlment include pusher elements engageable with the tailend of the sheet While supported in said lower level.

Certain features above referred to may be utilized to the same advantagein a different mechanism than herein disclosed, and" it should be statedthat the scope of the invention is outlined in the claims, and I do notdesire tolimit myself to the specifioembodiment of the invention hereindescribed.

The invention Will be-rnore fully described by reference to theaccompanying drawings showing portions of so much of the pre ferredembodiment as are necessary to an understanding of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a partial sect'ional side view of: a tworevolution cylin- 161 printing press havingmy improved sheet.

delivery embodied in it; Fig. 2; is a partial top plan of the mechan smshown in Flg. 1;;Fig. 3 isan enlarged sect onal side view ofthe deliveryalone; Figs. 1, 5, and 7 are Figs}; and 9 are partials'ectionalsideviews of the inner end of the delivery operating under. variousconditions; Figs. 10,.11 1-2 and13 are sectlonal top views ofcertamparts of-the delivery showing them in their preferred construction. Likeparts are indicated by, similar characters of reference throughout thedifferent figures.

The printing press from which the sheets delivered is generallyindicated by the reference character 1, and inasmuch asthe apparatus ofmy invention is not to be limited to :any. particular type of press ormar chine, it is not necessary to give a detail description of thepressshown as the same is well known by those skilled. in the art. Thesheets are initially delivered from the press upon carrying. tapes 2.The tapes2 andmechanismoperating the same and with itare so well knownas not to require description. The sheets are transferred. from tapes 2to the sheet delivery of my inven tion over guide fingers 3.

: Asm'y invention is specifically embodied in the "structure shown bythe drawings thereis present a sprocket chain 1 driven bythe sprocketchain gear 5' of the press;

and in turn driving a sprocket pinion Gupon whosegsh-aft is fixedlymounted'a spur pinion 7, said pinion '7 being in mesh with a spur gear 8upon whose'shaft sprocketwheels 9 a-re-n'i'ounted, one upon-each sideofthe sheet carrier. An endless sprocket chain IO-isdisi posed upon eachside of the sheet carrier structure? said chains being driven by thesprocket wheels 9 and in turn passing over mounted upon the yokestructure 17. An

ndless. on yer; belt; 1 .5 engages. the: roller s'tructure12 the pulley18. and the gripping devices 1 5 .and.16 in themanner mdicatedin thedrawings and fullydescribed in my U. S; Patent No-. 11,111,667,herein-before mentioned.

llhe chainslO also carry the rodstructures 1,9'mounted upon; said chains10and positioned. in. close proximity to and following the rollers .12.as they travel in a clockwise di-' rection as indicated in the drawings.Upon the rod structures 1.9 are mounted the tape holders.20, whichcarry; the conveyer tapes 21. These tapes preferably alternate, withthe: belts 14s in, their position in. the delivery structureasindicated; in, Fig. 2. Thetapes 2.1. are-preferablythough notnecessarily'an endlesstape which; is fiXed-ly; looped over; the hooks orpins 22; of the tapeholders 20. Tapes; 21 engage. alternate pulleys 13and pulleys 23. and; 24 mounted upon, theyoke structure 17 preferablycoaxial with the gripping elements15 and16 respectively as indicated inthe drawings. See F ig 1-3. There are sheet s tops' 25 formed. on thetape holders 20, which restrict the tapes; 21 betweenthem andthe rod.structures-19. Sheet guards or stop fingers 28 arealso mounted upon therod structures 19 and cooperate with: the stops 2.53 to cont-rol the.sheets as hereinafter described. Tape deflecting pulleys 27 are mountedupon said rod structures 19 between the sheet; stops. 25 and guards 28.

Let the cycle of operation be followedfrom the position. asxshown; inFig& 1, where the delivery; mechanism is just about tore:

,ceive the sheet. 26 positioned on the tapes w The surface speed of thesheet impelled by the tapes 2 is somewhat greater-than that of. thedelivery mechanism, and as the, delivery mechanismv progressesthe sheet.26. directed by the guide fingersfiis pushedagainst the sheet stops25,the stop fingers 28"ser ving} a to hold the leading edge of thesheet-down. The-upper stretch of; the'tapes21. isabove the upper stretchof: the beltslit by reason of the-position given them bythesheetstops 25and the engagement of the belts 1 1; with the pulleys 27. which: defieotsaid upper stretch of belts 14 downward. As a. consequencethesheetrests'upon said tapes 2.]. in itstravel outwardly. See Fig. 5-. Theup per or sheet bearing. stretch of said tapes2l I travels-with therodstructure 19 being fed over the pulleys 13 from the lower stretch whichdiminishes as the lower rod structure 19 travels inwardly on the lowerstretch of chains 10. The second stretch of tapes 21 is fed over thepulleys 23 or 24 as the case might be from the third stretch asindicated in thedra-wings. The upper stretch of the belts 14 rolls overthe pulleys 13 while the second stretch remains stationary being held bytheigripping device 15 or 16 as the case might be and is fed from theupper stretch over the roller structure 12, which revolves in aclockwise direction as fully described in the aforementioned patent.

Thus the sheet travels until the roller structure 12 and rod structure19 reach the sprocket 11 preparatory to returning along the'lowerstretch of the chains 10. As the turn is made it will be seen (see Fig.3) that the sheet is gradually brought to a standstill while the rodstructure 19 turns over the first quarter of sprockets l1. Normally thefriction of the sheet 26 against the tapes 21 would be sufficient tostop the sheet but at high speeds the stop fingers 28 serve to stop the'sheet at the extreme outward movement of rod structure 19 at whichpoint said fingers 28 assume a substantially vertical position as shownin Fig. 3. As rod structure 19, completes the turn over the sprockets 11the fingers 28 which are fast to the rod structure 19 turn with it andwhen the turn is completed lie approximately horizontal and in a lowerplane than that of the sheet. The sheet bearing stretch of tapes 21 isnow below the corresponding stretch of belts 14 because the portions ofthe roller structures 12 which the tapes 21 engage at this position inthe cycle of operation are of a smaller diameter than those portionswhich belts 14 engage and the rollers 23 and 24 are of a larger diameterthan the gripping devices 15 and 16. See Fig. 7 which shows a partialsectional side view of the delivery mechanism. Consequently the sheetrests upon the lower sheet bearing or delivery stretch of belts 14 atthis point and continues to until it is delivered.

It will be seen that the tapes 21 also serve as a sheet guard to preventthe forward end of a thin sheet from dropping in between the'rollerstructure 12 and rod structure 19. See Fig. 7.

The mechanism is now about to deliver the sheet. By reason of thegripping elements 15 this delivery stretch of the belts 14 is heldstationary. As the mechanism advances and the delivery stretch of thetapes and belts moves inwardly the roller struc tures 12 revolve in aclockwise direction, thus winding the said belts out from under thesheet and itis delivered upon the re ceiving table 29, the rod structure19 sliding out from under said sheet. See Fig. 5.

, Certain classes of paper do not require such an efficient constructionfor their satisfactory delivery. A simplified construction of theprinciples disclosed above may be used as is shown in Fig. 4. The belts14 and their attachments are eliminated. The rod structures 19 engagethe chains 10 as above described and carry the tape holders 20, sheetstops 25, and stop fingers 28. The sheet is initially received betweenthe elements 25 and 28. The tapes 21 operate as above described exceptthat during the delivery operation the sheet still rests upon the tapes21 but is held stationary by means of sheet stops or pusher fingerswhich are preferably formed on the yoke structure 17. -Thus the tapes 21and rod structure 19 with its attachments slide out from under the sheetand it is deposited in the same manner as before.

Fig. 6 shows another modification of the invention, in which the tapes21 are dispensed with. In the operation of this form belts 14 slideunder the sheet, whose speed is limited by the sheet stops 25, while thesheet is traveling outwardly, the discharge of the sheet beingaccomplished in the same manner as in Fig. 7.

It will be observed that while one red structure 19 is on the lowerstretch of chains 10 delivering a sheet the other red structure 19 isoperating on the upper stretch of the chains 10 receiving another sheetpreparatory to delivering it from the lower stretch. The same is true ofmy invention in all its variations.

The delivery may also be operated omitting the tapes 21 as is shown inFigs. 6 and 9. In this conception of my invention rod structures 19 haveonly the function of supporting sheet stops. While carrying the sheetout it will be observed that the upper stretch of belts 14 travels twiceas fast as the sheet and sheet stops. As a consequence in the abovementioned construction said belts 14 slide forward under the sheet.This, however, is not objectionable in delivering many classes of paperand if desired may be minimized if not entirely avoided by adjusting thedelivery in relation to the time when the sheet reaches the sheet stepsso that the sheet will have almost completed its outward travel beforeit strikes said sheet stops. l/Vhen the sheet reaches a position overthe delivery table 29 and roller structure 12 and rod structure 19 turnabout sprockets 11 the sheet is delivered as before, roller structure 12revolving in a clockwise direction and rolling belts 14 out from underthe sheet. Loose pulleys 27 engage the belts 14 on the upper stretchdeflecting the upper stretch of said belts downwardly and disengage saidstretch as rod structure 19 turns about sprockets 11 in the mannerhereinbefore described and as indicated in the drawings. This reducesthe distance which the sheet must drop from the upper stretch to thelower or delivery stretch of said belts 14', thus practicallypreventing: the sheet. bearing stretch of said belts from dropping: awayfrom the sheet and leaving 1t sus pended in the air and uncontrolled.

Roller structures 12 are supported while traveling on the upper stretchof chains 10 by the rollers 30 which are fixedly mounted upon saidroller structures and bear upon tracks 31. Tracks 31 are preferablyfaced on the upper stretch are supported by rollers 35 rotatably mountedupon said rod structures and bear upon the tracks 31. Onthelower stretchrod structures 19 are supported by rollers 36 rota'tably mounted uponstuds 83 of chain blocks 85 hereinafter described and bear-ingupontracks- 33. Tracks 31, 33, and 3d are mountedupon the delivery frames37, which are pivoted to the main frame substantially co-axial withsprockets 9 and upon which said sprockets 11 are mounted. The outer endsof said frames 37 are supported by the rack bars 72, the gear teeth ofwhich engage pinions 73 fixedlymounted upon shaft 74 which is journaledin the main frame 1. Manually operated means engage said shaft 745' toraise or lower said frames 37 and attachments to facilitate access tothe inking mechanism 75' or other machinery located directly under it. Adog latch 76 pivoted on the press frame 1 engages the gear teeth of oneof said rack bars 72 to securethe frames 37' in any desired position.The delivery board 29 or sheet receiving table is also pivoted on pressframe 1 at its inner end and engages said rack bars 72 with the slidablebracket 77 and is. moved accordingly.

T henabove described mechanism delivers the sheets printed side up. Manytimes it is desirable to have the sheets delivered printed side down.This is accomplished by employing the old well known fly delivery and itis customary to equip machines with fly delivery in addition to thesheet delivery mechanism. In. brder [that this combination may be usedmost beneficially it is necessary that the change from one: to the othercan be made quickly and easily. In the drawings the fly mechanism shownWhile is of the well known cam, 1'ack,zand=pii1ion type and is indicatedgeneral-lyvbythe refer-- ence character 38. The. fly. StlCkS: 39.: and;

shaft 40 are, when the fly delivery. isrnot 7 used, placed as a unit invappropriatesockets on the press frame 1- to form sheet guards over tapes2. See Fig. l, whiclr-a1S01indi;-' catesin dotted lines the position ofsaidfiy; sticks; 39. when the fly delivery isxusei.

It will be observed that: in order that; thefl-y" delivery may be usedall of 'thetsheet v delivery structure which extends. acrosst-hepress inthe path of the fly: must: be. re--. moved. This includes: rodstructures; 1-9 and roller structure 12 and; shaft? 41:, all; of whichare so constructed as: to perm-it their: quickremoval or"installation-'., A sectionof one ofthe roller structures 12 is shown inFig.- 10. The roller proper- 792B: rotatably mounted. on bearings: 68preferablyone at each end. Saidbearings' turn-i upona. roddQ- theendsofwhich are: squared. Bearing or chain blocks 69 of chains 10 carrystuds 43 having squared recesses which receive the squared ends of rodsd2; Fig; 11 illustrates a" section of one end of rodstructure. 19 whichis made up of a rodtdand' a tube 45 for" purposes hereinaften described.The ends of rod- 445 ar'e squared and fit into squared recesses of studs461 formed onchain or; bearing blocks 69 of chains 10: Roller structures12 and rodi structures 19. areput on or takenofl thepress" by liftingone or both ofthe upper stretches of chains 10 when one of the; bearingblocks 69 is at about the middle of that stretch, until thebearingblock, 66' is above the retaining-guard rail (YT-0f frames37"andspreading samewhilein thisipositionuntil the aforementioned?squared end" can be withdrawn or inserted into their-respective.recesses. Said bearing blocks 66 and 69 which support the chains 10' invtheir elon'e' gated path when the above mentioned fly delivery is usedby bear-in upon slides in the upper stretch and. 1 in the lower stretch;These slides areintegral' with frames 37. See Fig. 2. The shaft 41;which drives the sprocket 9" on the opposite side ofthe press and uponwhich the yoke-structure 17 is rotatably mounted is removed in thef'OllOWing manner. The ends of. this shaft are turned to fit in tocollars 47",- a spline 48' being employed to fix said shaft and collarrotatably. The outer ends of said collarsv have projections fitting intorecesses in the hubs ofsprockets 9fby' means of whichpower istransmitted to and from said shaft 41. Shaft 49'upon' which sprocket 9'is fixedly mounted projects, beyond" the hub of" said sprocket and fitsinto coll'ar47i thus supporting said shaft 41. Set screws 50 secures thecollar 47in its position; along shaft 11. In removing saidshaft 41' setscrews 50 are loosened and collars 47" are pushedback upon shaft 41.This allows said shaft to be lifted out. The fly shaft 40 is secured tothe fly shaft studs 51 by a spliced connection 52 as indicated. Thesheet guides 3 are swung down into a position indicated by dotted linesin Fig. 1 when the fly is used. Cam 53 lifts said guides to clear rollerstructures 12 and rod structures 19 when the sheet delivery is 1noperation being actuated by contact with rollers 32 and 36. Said camalso prevents the guides 3 from interfering with roller structures 12and rod structures 19 when the press is backed up.

It is at times necessary to shift the delivery tapes sidewise in orderto accommodate the ed es of the different sizes of paper, the reasoneing that the edges of the sheet to be delivered is in such a positionin relation to one of'the tapes or belts that while overlapping saidtape or belt it is not enough to support it and the edge of the sheetfalls into the space between the tapes and in the course of operationinterferes with the proper delivery of the sheet by striking some of theabove described delivery structure. This is accomplished in thefollowing manner. The yoke structure 17 which is rotatably mounted onshaft 41 is adjusted by shifting the thrust collars 54 se cured to saidshaft by set screws 55. See Fig. 12. This is done readily as said yokestructure is shifted bodily being made up of separators 15, 16, 56, andside plates 57 assembled in the order indicated and clamped together a aunit by the rods 58 and nuts 59. Separators 15 and 16 serve as grippingdevices for the above mentioned belts 14 and may have any desiredoutward contour to grip said belts sufliciently. Separators 56 have theloose pulleys 23 and 24 of tapes 21 mounted upon them. On rollerstructures 12, see Fig. 10, the enlargements 60, which engage the belts14, are fixedly mounted upon a tube 78 which encircles the roller proper7 9 of said roller structure 12. Said tube 7 8 is adjustable along themain roller 79 being controlled by collars 80 and set screws 81.Projections on tube 78 fitting into recesses of collars 80 fix said tuberotatably in relation to the main structure 7 9. On rod structure 19 thetube 45 upon which tape holders 20, fingers 28 and pulleys 27 aremounted encircles rod 44 and is fixed in relation to it by the clutchcollars 63 and set screw 64 by the adjustment of which said tube and itsattachments may be set to meet the above mentioned requirements.Recesses in said collars 63 receiving projections formed on theoutermost tape holder 20 fix said tube 45 rotatably in relation with rod44. Tape holders 20 and sheet guards or fingers 28 are secured to tube45 by screws or pins.

It will be seen that both belts l4 and tapes 21 must be elastic to keepthem taut during the whole cycle of operation. Elastic tapes or beltsmay be used, but in the drawings I have provided spring compensatingmeans. Endless springs 82 are put in the belts and tapes at convenientintervals running through loops formed at the ends of the unelasticportions of said tapes and belts.

Changes and variations may be made in the construction by which theinventionis carried into effect. The invention is not, therefore, to belimited to the specific constructions herein described and illustratedin the accompanying drawings.

What is claimed is 1. A sheetcarrier having a sheet supporting element;and means for causing the sheet supporting surface of said element totravel in an up er level during its receipt of the sheet to be carriedand for causing said surface while supporting such sheet to descend to alower level there to discharge the carried sheet, said means including atraveling sheet stop to stop or arrest the sheet on its outward travel.

2. A sheet carrier having a sheet supporting element; and means forcausing the sheet supporting surface of said element 'totravel in anupper level during its receipt of the sheet to be carried and foreausmg'sald surface while supporting such sheet to descend to a lower levelthere to discharge the earned sheet,'sa1d means includvmg a travellngsheet stop positioned to'arrest the sheet during the outward travel ofthe sheet and moving to a position below the sheet during its discharge.f

3. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting element; and means forcausing the sheet supporting surface of said element to travel in anupper level during its receipt of the sheet to be carried and forcausing said surface while supporting such sheet to descend to a lowerlevel, and a separate means for discharging the sheet from saidsupporting element during its travel on the lower level.

4. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting endless belt element,traveling sheet stops, and means for causing the sheet supportingsurface of the endless belt element to move in the upper stretch of aclosed path there to receive the sheet to be supported and to move tothe lower stretch of such path while carrying the sheet there todischarge said supported sheet, said traveling sheet stops beingpositioned to arrest the sheet during the outward travel of said sheet.

5. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting endless belt element,traveling sheet stops, and means for causing the sheet supportingsurface of the endless belt element to move in the upper stretchofa'closed path.

there to receive .the sheet to be supported and to move to the lowerstretch of such "path while -carryingthe sheet there to discharge thesupported sheet, said traveling s'heet stops being positioned to arrestthe sheet during the outward travel of the sheet supporting element andto :move to a position below the sheet during its discharge.

6. A sheet carrier including a belt ele- 'ment, --roller structure forsaid belt element, defiecting pulleys adapted to engage said beltelement to deflect the same, a structure for supporting said pulleys andmea ns -aeting as a guard for the sheet positioned between the said*roller structure and the pulley structure.

a'sheet carrier, tapes -for supporting the sheet; a tape driving rollerengaging sai'd tape; :and tape depressing pulleys for defleeti ng "saidtape's and-moving with said first mentioned ro'ller.

8. ln a sheet carrier, tapes for supporting "the sheet, and adapted formovement outwardly inwardly, a tape driving roller engaging -sa idtapes, and tape depressing pulleys for deflecting said tapes in theiroutward travel and ieleasing or disengaging fromsaid tapes on theirinward travel.

9. *In a sheet carrier, tapes for supporting-and delivering the sheet, adoubling or loopingdevice engaging said tapes, a mounting rod for said"looping'device, a driving means f-or said 'rod, and a detachableconneetion between said driving means and rod.

10. Ina-sheet carrier, tapes for'supporting delivering the sheet, meansfor engaging said tapes, and means :for effecting endwise adjustment'o'f said tapes in groups cf twoor more.

1 1. In'a'sheet' 'carrier,'tapes for supporting and delivering thesheet, doubling or looping'devices 'for said tapes being formed in ;a"group, =-a supporting means for said looping device' gr'oup, and-meansfor an endwise adjustment of 1 said grouped looping device group on saidsupporting means.

'12. A sheet carrier includin ta'pes for supporting and deliveringsheets, a "tape 'r' ol'le-r, a rod upon which said roller is mounted,chain blocks for supporting said rod and -roller 'engaging saidtapes,said rod being held non rota'tably in said chain bl'o'dks.

1 3. sheet carrier including tapes for supporting {and deliveringsheets, a tubular tape roller engaging said tapes, asupportingrod,upon-whieh said roller is rotatably mounted, chains,extended chain blocks in which said supporting rod is slidably mounted,and a track for supporting said extended chain block's.

1'4. 111 a ejonvertible sheet delivery carrier "and *fiy deliveny asheet carrier, a fly frame, and {swinging guide fingers operatingbetweenthe'fiy and carrien' said guide fingers being pivotally mountedand adapted to swing back to a position under the fly frame.

15. A sheet carrier including tapes for supporting and deliveringsheets, a rod, sheet stops mounted on said rod, a chain, and a chainblock which is of-greater width than said chain, and-a retaining meansfor said chain block.

16. A sheet carrier including tapes for 'supportin' and deliveringsheets, a tape roller, a c ain and chain block which is of said beltelement; a sheet stop forarresting the sheet during the outward travelthereof and having two sheet engaging'po'rtions, one for engaging thesheet when it is received upon the belt and the other for obstructingrelative motion of the sheet with respectto the belt at the point ofdischarge; and mechanism for causing I the travel of the stop in thedirection of movement of the sheet, for moving the stop to =pres'entthefirs't sheet engaging portion' to t'he s'heet beingreceived upon thebelt element, later to present-the second sheet engaging por-tionto thesheet, and to move this latter sheet engaging portion out of the path oftravel of the sheet to permit of discharge ofthe sheet from the beltelement.

'19. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting belt element; a sheetreceiving table upon which sheets may be deposited from said beltelement; a stop structure havlng two sheet engaging portions betweenwhlch the sheet is initially received when the sheet is beingtransferred to said belt element,

moving thestop structure in-the direction of travel of the sheet and forplacing it below the sheet when the sheet is to be discharged from thebelt element.

21, A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting belt element; a sheetreceiving table upon which sheets may be deposited from said beltelement; a stop structure having a sheet engaging portion forobstructing relative motion between the sheet and the belt at the pointof discharge; and mechanism for presenting this sheet engaging portionto the sheet undergoing dlscharge and for thereafter removing the sheetengaging portion out of the path of travel of the sheet.

22. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting belt element; a sheetreceiving table upon Which sheetsvmay be deposited from said beltelement; a stop structure having a sheet engaging portion forobstructing relative motion between the sheet and the belt. at the pointof discharge; and mechanism for causing the stop structure to move withthe sheet for presenting this sheet engaging portion to the sheetundergoing discharge and for thereafter removing the sheet engagingportion out of the path of travel of the sheet.

23. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting element; means forcausing the sheet supporting surface of said element to travel in anupper level during its receipt of the sheet to be carried and forcausing said surface while supporting such sheet to de scend to alowerlevel; an additional sheet supporting element for receiving thesheet from the aforesaid sheet supporting element; and means foreffecting relative motion between these sheet supporting elements toeffect the transfer of the sheet from the first to the second sheetsupportingelement and for effecting the discharge of the sheet from thesecond sheet supporting element.

24. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting belt element; means forcausing the sheet supporting surface of said belt element to travel inan upper level during its receipt of the sheet to be carried and forcausing said surface while supporting such sheet to descend to a lowerlevel; an additional sheet supporting belt element for receiving thesheet from the aforesaid sheet supporting belt element; and means for offecting relative motion between these sheet supporting belt elements toeffect the transfer of the sheet from the first to the second sheetsupporting belt element and for effecting the discharge of the sheetfrom the second sheet supporting belt element.

25. A sheet carrier including a traveling sheet supporting belt element;means for causing the sheet supporting surface of said element to travelin an upper level during its receipt of the sheet to be carried and forcausing said surface while supporting such sheet to descend to a lowerlevel; and a separate belt element for receiving the sheet from theaforesaid belt element and eflecting the discharge of the sheet.

26. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting element adapted toreceive the sheet and to carry the same to the point of dis charge; andan endless sheet supporting belt element adapted to receive the sheetfrom said first mentioned supporting element at the point of dischargeto eifect the discharge of said sheet.

27. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting element movingoutwardly and inwardly and adapted to receive a sheet during its outwardmovement; and an endless sheet supporting belt element moving insynchronism with said first mentioned supporting element and adapted toreceive the sheet from said first mentioned supporting element to effectthe discharge thereof during the inward movement of said first mentioned supporting element.

28. A sheet carrier including a moving sheet supporting element adaptedto receive the sheet, and an endless sheet supporting belt elementmoving in synchronism with said first mentioned supporting element andadapted to receive the sheet from said first mentioned supportingelement to effect the discharge of the sheet.

29. A sheet carrier including a moving sheet supporting element adaptedto receive the sheet and to carry the same to the point of discharge;and an endless sheet supporting belt element moving in synchronism withsaid first mentioned supporting element and adapted to receive the sheetfrom said first mentioned supporting element to effect the discharge ofthe same.

30. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting tape stretch element;two supporting elements engaging the ends thereof to support the same,means for moving said supporting element in a closed path, and bothsubstantially in a uniform direction; means engaging said tape stretchbetween the ends thereof to form a bight therein; and mechanism foreffecting the discharge of a sheet supported on said tape stretch fromsaid tape stretch.

31. In a sheet carrier, two spaced driving elements moving in parallelpaths and having laterally disposed recesses of irregular cross sectionat corresponding points thereon, said recesses extending in directionstoward one another and having the openings thereof facing in oppositedirections, and a supporting structure extending across the spacebetween said driving elements and having the ends thereof disposedwithin respective of said recesses, said ends having an irregular crosssection corresponding with said recesses to prevent rotation of saidsupporting structure within said recesses.

32. In a sheet carrier, two spaced driving chains supported and movingin parallel paths, a chain block included in each chain, said chainblocks being disposed at corresponding points on their respective chainand having laterally disposed recesses formed therein extending indirections toward one another and having the openings thereof facing inopposite directions, a supporting structure extending across the spacebetween said chains and having the ends thereof disposed withinrespective of said recesses, a laterally extending chain block in eachchain disposed on the opposite side thereof relatively to the respectiverecessed block and adjacent thereto, and a bearer for each extendedchain block facing oppositely to the opening of the recess of therecessed block of the respective chain.

33. In a sheet carrier, two spaced driving chains supported and movingin parallel paths, a chain block included in each chain, said chainblocks being disposed at corresponding points on their respective chainsand having laterally disposed recesses of irregular cross section formedtherein extending in directions toward one another and having theopenings thereof facing in opposite directions, a supporting structureextending across the space between said chains and having the endsthereof of irregular cross section corresponding with the respectiverecesses disposed within respective of said recesses, a laterallyextending chain block in each chain disposed on the opposite sidethereof relatively to the respective recessed block and adjacentthereto, and a bearer for each extended chain block facing oppositely tothe opening of the [recess of the recessed block of the respectivechain.

34. In a sheet carrier, two spaced driving chains supported and movingin parallel paths, a laterally extending chain block included in eachchain, said chain blocks being disposed at corresponding points on theirrespective chains and having laterally disposed recesses formed thereinextendingin directions toward one another and having the openingsthereof facing in opposite directions, a supporting structure extendingacross the space between said driving elements and having the endsthereof disposed within respective of said recesses, and a bearer foreach chain facing oppositely to the opening of the recess of theextended chain block of the respective chain.

35. In a sheet carrier two spaced driving chains supported and moving inparallel paths, a laterally extending chain block included in eachchain, said chain block being disposed at corresponding points on theirrespective chain and having laterally disposed recesses of irregularcross section formed therein extending in directions toward one anotherand having the openings thereof face while supporting such sheet todescend to a lower level, and means engageable with the sheet while saidsurface is disposed in said lower level for discharging the sheettherefrom.

37. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting element, means forcausing said sheet supporting surface of said element to traveloutwardly during the receipt of the sheet to be carried and for causingsaid surface to descend to a lower level while sup-, porting such sheetand to travel inwardly, and means engageable with the supported sheet,While said sheet supporting surface is in said lower level, and adaptedto discharge the sheet from said surface.

38. A sheet carrier including a sheet suporting'element, means forcausing said sheet supporting surface of said element to traveloutwardly during its receipt of the sheet to be carried and for causingsaid surface to descend to a lower level while supporting such sheet andto travel inwardly, and pusher elements engageable with the supportedsheet, while said sheet supporting surface is in said lower level, andengageable with the tail end of the sheet to effect the discharge of thesheet from said surface.

39. A sheet carrier including a sheet supporting belt element, a pair ofspaced supporting structures engaging respective ends of said beltelement to support the same and moving in an elongated closed path in asubstantially uniform direction, a bight forming element engageable withsaid belt element between the ends thereof to form a bight therein andaround which said supporting structures pass, and pusher elements formedon said bight forming elementand engageable with a sheet on said beltelement to discharge the sheet therefrom.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ROBERT MIEHLE. WVitnesses:

R. IF. MIEHLE, J r., S. J. TURNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,'by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

